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mutant
Cynic

Registered: 01/05/09
Posts: 174
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions
#23550146 - 08/17/16 02:37 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Wanted to grow ephedra for several years.. I had managed to get one going in the past but it died of neglect....so, long story short, in the last couple months I managed to
get many E.foeminea (synonym to fragilis and campylopoda) fresh seed as a gift from some friend who found a couple specimens in another city. I have some 40+ seedlings currently, half have branched. The soil I chose was not the best but the number of seeds allowed me some losses.
got 2/5 e.sinica seedlings from seed I got in a trade, one died, I like to think it was from under watering, having lost most foeminea seedlings from a combo or bad soil and an extra watering I think.
bought a older sinica plant, got it less than two weeks, seems to be layer-rooted plant derived from a mother, it is throwing fresh sprouts, holding my fingers together about this as I acclimatise to more sun.
jsut yesterday a friend found a foeminea plant locally..
in any case, as foeminea doesn seem so interesting, it is nevertheless a beautiful sight while fruiting and a great "work up" to learn how to start these stubborn xerophytic ancient slow growing plants.. plus it seems to be baring some mild stimulant properties...
The notes of both modern shaman and karode have been very helpful
I have some questions
when do we replant? modern shaman said when it reached a couple inches. what about etiolation?? how fast from it making the first branches should we bring to more sun?
except the older sinica I received, I keep all seedlings in a spot they receive only an hour at most of direct sun... should I tranfer the branched ones to more sun?
PS: camera's down I will return with some photos soon..
Chime in share your experience...
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modern.shaman
San Mescalito




Registered: 05/09/12
Posts: 3,229
Loc: Zone 13
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: mutant]
#23550458 - 08/17/16 04:31 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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I hate ephedra because after about 2 years they just die on me
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,359
Loc: Texas
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: modern.shaman]
#23551728 - 08/17/16 11:15 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
modern.shaman said: I hate ephedra because after about 2 years they just die on me 
Qft. I couldnt keep mine alive.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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Mostly_Harmless
wyrd bið ful aræd



Registered: 05/12/09
Posts: 5,043
Loc: Perfidious Albion
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: ferrel_human]
#23552185 - 08/18/16 03:33 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
ferrel_human said:
Quote:
modern.shaman said: I hate ephedra because after about 2 years they just die on me 
Qft. I couldnt keep mine alive. 
Nearly there myself too, 1 survivor out of 3 and it doesn't seem too happy but still gives some new growth
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LSoares
Farmer



Registered: 10/09/13
Posts: 3,209
Loc: Portugal
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: Mostly_Harmless]
#23552250 - 08/18/16 04:33 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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I have no experience with these plants, but could salt buildup be the problem?
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,359
Loc: Texas
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: LSoares]
#23552365 - 08/18/16 06:34 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Mine were in coir and perlite. And didnt fed them ever. Oh well.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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LSoares
Farmer



Registered: 10/09/13
Posts: 3,209
Loc: Portugal
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: ferrel_human]
#23552372 - 08/18/16 06:37 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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They could be intolerant of calcium buildup, and calcium carbonate is added to most water supplies to make the water alkaline and avoid corrosion issues in the pipes. A number of bog dwelling carnivorous plants are intolerant of any salt buildup in their medium, for example.
But, like I said, I have no experience with Ephedra. Just making some guesses.
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modern.shaman
San Mescalito




Registered: 05/09/12
Posts: 3,229
Loc: Zone 13
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: LSoares]
#23552814 - 08/18/16 10:09 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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I have no idea what happens but this is the second time it has happened to me. It does well in the beginning but then just dies out of the blue one day after about 2 years. It MAY be too small a pot but IDK there is enough room but could have been a larger pot.
Salt buildup may be the reason for poor root health?
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Stupendous-Yappi
Anomaly XB-311394


Registered: 09/23/13
Posts: 778
Loc: USA
Last seen: 4 months, 11 days
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: modern.shaman]
#23553103 - 08/18/16 11:45 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
But, like I said, I have no experience with Ephedra. Just making some guesses.
You may be right. My seedlings were doing fine with rain water but I got lazy and used tap water a couple of times and then they slowly started dying of one at a time.
--------------------
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ferrel_human
stone eater



Registered: 06/26/09
Posts: 16,359
Loc: Texas
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Quote:
Stupendous-Yappi said:
Quote:
But, like I said, I have no experience with Ephedra. Just making some guesses.
You may be right. My seedlings were doing fine with rain water but I got lazy and used tap water a couple of times and then they slowly started dying of one at a time. 
Tap water even if left for 2 days for chlorine to evaporate, is a ph killer. I learned the hard way with my e. novos and cacao plant. Even RO water, devoid of any monerals and nutrition, is way better than tap water.
-------------------- Nature is my church and walking through it is gospel. It tells no lies and reveals all to those who look, and listen, closely. -Karode
 Looking for Mimosa tenuiflora seeds. Buttons for trade
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LSoares
Farmer



Registered: 10/09/13
Posts: 3,209
Loc: Portugal
Last seen: 4 years, 3 months
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: modern.shaman]
#23555785 - 08/19/16 02:34 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
modern.shaman said: I have no idea what happens but this is the second time it has happened to me. It does well in the beginning but then just dies out of the blue one day after about 2 years. It MAY be too small a pot but IDK there is enough room but could have been a larger pot.
Salt buildup may be the reason for poor root health?
Yes, it will increase the hardness and pH of the water available to the roots and may eventually shut down water intake altogether. Check out this.
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mutant
Cynic

Registered: 01/05/09
Posts: 174
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: Mostly_Harmless]
#23556100 - 08/19/16 07:43 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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hello, interesting notes.
I think there might be something with the pot size. soil in mine are begining to dry up faster, and I have seen what happens to seedlings when in such small pots: one day perhaps of not attending or missing a watering and it might dry up.
ephedras might be slow growers, but they're ancient, maybe there's a tap root. There's a pic on the www , easily the largest ephedra in cultivation, in a pot that I have seen. Its a large and lushy bush which is planted on a huge barrel, maybe 500 liters. no idea about the potting mix. Also, the small (cutting) e.sinica I received , badly as it was packed, it came in a narrow but really deep pot (hint, as that dude seemed to sell layered cuttings off his mother plant which was in a raised bed)
I visited the place the friend found the e.foeminea.. the place is amazing.. there are over 30-40 pretty old plants in that spot, I wish I could calculate their age... So there are many plants but its hard to find where each plant is begining from. Most are mangled in a small piece of low but dense seaside forest by a dirt road. Amazing find in any case. I was even thinking to go and attempt to root a layered branch over winter on situ. many wonderful capabilities.
E.foeminea in habitat seems very different than other ephedras in that its a crowler, also leaner-vine-like from what I am seeing in pictures and also with my eyes...
modern-shaman, you mentioned something about transplantings... in how big pots did you transplant the seedlings? in what size pot did they die on you? how did you acclimatise?
Quote:
Mostly_Harmless said:
Quote:
ferrel_human said:
Quote:
modern.shaman said: I hate ephedra because after about 2 years they just die on me 
Qft. I couldnt keep mine alive. 
Nearly there myself too, 1 survivor out of 3 and it doesn't seem too happy but still gives some new growth 
species / age / size / pot size ???
PS: Like I said I will return to provide pictures
Edited by mutant (08/19/16 07:51 AM)
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mutant
Cynic

Registered: 01/05/09
Posts: 174
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: mutant]
#23556130 - 08/19/16 07:59 AM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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very nice link, I am leaving it here
http://www.worldbotanical.com/ephedra.htm
also
Quote:
The root meristem of E. monosperma and E. chilensis possesses a central group of distinctive, large cells. These cells have large nuclei with scattered heterochromatin, proplastids with no starch, small vacuoles, mitochondria, few dictyosomes and endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, and lipid deposits Over a 24 hr labelling period, the large cells fail to incorporate 3H-thymidine, whereas cells both distal and proximal to this region do. A quiescent center which includes these large cells is present therefore Both species have an extensive root cap, the length being contributed by mitoses in many tiers of cells distal to the quiescent center. The root cap consists of a columella and peripheral regions. Distinctive amyloplasts, an increase in the number of endoplasmic reticulum cisternae and dictyosomes, large vacuoles, and lipid deposits are characteristic of differentiated columella cells. Peripheral cells elongate, lose most of their starch, and are eventually sloughed from the root
I dont understand most of what its saying though
Quote:
A prominent underground tap root system with many adventitious roots is present in Ephedra.
tap root... maybe the pot size is the way to go..
remember how argyreia nervosa will not grow unless you give it a root space?? well maybe its like this...
maybe your attempts saw ephedra more of a houseplant, which it might not be easily trained to be into
Edited by mutant (08/19/16 08:04 AM)
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mutant
Cynic

Registered: 01/05/09
Posts: 174
Last seen: 7 years, 2 months
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Re: Ephedra sp. cultivation notes and questions [Re: mutant]
#23566823 - 08/22/16 06:01 PM (7 years, 6 months ago) |
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Mr LSoares I am quite sure at least one and propably more than one species of Ephedra grow wild in Portugal.
Maybe the answer to the cultivation of this ancient plant lies to observing it in its natural habitat. And maybe you can also get some fresh seeds.
Oh and I actually tasted an ephedra fruit today.. its relatively sweet as they say...
here's a pic with the trunk shown
Edited by mutant (08/23/16 07:03 AM)
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